• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제23권7호
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• pp.1003-1010
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• 2002

Caspase 3, a member of cysteine protease family, is well known as a major apoptosis effector and is involved in cell death as a result of ischemic diseases such as stroke and myocardial infarction, therefore the inhibition of caspase 3 may protect those apoptotic cell damages. During the high-throughput screening of the compounds from the Korea Chemical Bank, berberine derivatives (A and B), an isoquinoline alkaloid, have been identified as potential inhibitors for caspase 3. Based on this finding we carried out molecular modeling study to identify the pharmacophoric elements of berberine structure which interact with a substrate-recognition binding site of caspase 3 and came up with several novel scaffolds. In this report, we will discuss the molecular modeling, syntheses and the enzyme inhibitory activities of these novel compounds.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.257-272
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• 2022

In addition to inducing apoptosis, caspase inhibition contributes to necroptosis and/or autophagy depending on the cell type and cellular context. In macrophages, necroptosis can be induced by co-treatment with Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands (lipopolysaccharide [LPS] for TLR4 and polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid [poly I:C] for TLR3) and a cell-permeable pan-caspase inhibitor zVAD. Here, we elucidated the signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms of cell death. We showed that LPS/zVAD- and poly I:C/zVAD-induced cell death in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) was inhibited by receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIP1) inhibitor necrostatin-1 and autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine. Electron microscopic images displayed autophagosome/autolysosomes, and immunoblotting data revealed increased LC3II expression. Although zVAD did not affect LPS- or poly I:C-induced activation of IKK, JNK, and p38, it enhanced IRF3 and STAT1 activation as well as type I interferon (IFN) expression. In addition, zVAD inhibited ERK and Akt phosphorylation induced by LPS and poly I:C. Of note, zVAD-induced enhancement of the IRF3/IFN/STAT1 axis was abolished by necrostatin-1, while zVAD-induced inhibition of ERK and Akt was not. Our data further support the involvement of autocrine IFNs action in reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent necroptosis, LPS/zVAD-elicited ROS production was inhibited by necrostatin-1, neutralizing antibody of IFN receptor (IFNR) and JAK inhibitor AZD1480. Accordingly, both cell death and ROS production induced by TLR ligands plus zVAD were abrogated in STAT1 knockout macrophages. We conclude that enhanced TRIF-RIP1-dependent autocrine action of IFNβ, rather than inhibition of ERK or Akt, is involved in TLRs/zVAD-induced autophagic and necroptotic cell death via the JAK/STAT1/ROS pathway.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제14권6호
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• pp.365-369
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• 2010

In this study, we examined whether melatonin promotes apoptotic cell death via p53 in prostate LNCaP cells. Melatonin treatment significantly curtailed the growth of LNCaP cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Melatonin treatment (0 to 3 mM) induced the fragmentation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and activation of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9. Moreover, melatonin markedly activated Bax expression and decreased Bcl-2 expression in dose increments. To investigate p53 and p21 expression, LNCaP cells were treated with 0 to 3 mM melatonin. Melatonin increased the expressions of p53, p21, and p27. Treatment with mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors, PD98059 (ERK inhibitor), SP600125 (JNK inhibitor) and SB202190 (p38 inhibitor), confirmed that the melatonin-induced apoptosis was p21-dependent, but ERK-independent. With the co-treatment of PD98059 and melatonin, the expression of p-p53, p21, and MDM2 did not decrease. These effects were opposite to the expression of p-p53, p21, and MDM2 observed with SP600125 and SB202190 treatments. Together, these results suggest that p53-dependent induction of JNK/p38 MAPK directly participates in apoptosis induced by melatonin.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제18권12호
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• pp.1997-2003
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• 2008

Cordyceps militaris is well known as a traditional medicinal mushroom and has been shown to exhibit immunostimulatory and anticancer activities. In this study, we investigated the apoptosis induced by an aqueous extract of C. militaris (AECM) via the activation of caspases and altered mitochondrial membrane permeability in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. Exposure to AECM induced apoptosis, as demonstrated by a quantitative analysis of nuclear morphological change and a flow cytometric analysis. AECM increased hyperpolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential and promoted the activation of caspases. Both the cytotoxic effect and apoptotic characteristics induced by AECM treatment were significantly inhibited by z-DEVD-fmk, a caspase-3 inhibitor, which demonstrates the important role of caspase-3 in the observed cytotoxic effect. AECM-induced apoptosis was associated with the inhibition of Akt activation in a time-dependent manner, and pretreatment with LY294002, a PI3K/Akt inhibitor, significantly increased AECM-induced apoptosis. The results indicated that AECM-induced apoptosis may relate to the activation of caspase-3 and mitochondria dysfunctions that correlate with the inactivation of Akt.

• 대한두경부종양학회지
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.142-149
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• 2002

본 연구에서는 FRTL-5 갑상선세포에서 Protein phosphatase type 1(PP-1)과 type 2A(PP-2A) 효소의 억제제인 okadaic acid에 의한 apoptosis 유도 기전에 대하여 이해하고자 하였다. FRTL-5 갑상선세포에 다양한 농도($10{\sim}80nmol$)의 okadaic acid를 처리 한 후 caspase 3와 $PLC-{\gamma}1$ 분절을 확인 한 결과 40nmol 농도에서부터 caspase 3활성과 $PLC-{\gamma}1$ 분절이 나타남을 확인하였다. Okadaic acid에 의한 apoptosis 유도 기전을 조사한 결과 anti-apoptotic 기능이 있는 Bcl-2 단백질 발현은 미약하게 감소하였으나 Bcl-xL은 농도 의존적으로 급격한 감소를 보였다. Caspase 3 효소활성을 저해하는 IAP 단백질 중 cIAP2는 okadaic acid에 영향을 받지 않았으나 cIAP1과 XIAP 단백질 발현은 농도 의존적으로 감소하였다. Okadaic acid에 의한 apoptosis 유도는 caspase 3 의존적인 기전을 보였다. Caspase 3 특이억제제를 okadaic acid와 동시에 처리 시 apoptosis가 억제되었으며 $PLC-{\gamma}1$ 단백질의 절단 현상도 방지되었다. Caspase 3의 활성을 유도하는 cytochrome c의 유리는 okadaic acid처리 농도에 의존적으로 유리하였다. 결론적으로, okadaic acid에 의한 apoptosis 유도는 caspase 3 의존적이며, Bcl-2와 IAP family 단백질 감소현상에 의하여 야기되는 것으로 생각된다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.92-100
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• 2004

Effect of the depletion or oxidation of GSH on mitomycin c (MMC)-induced mitochondrial damage and cell death was assessed in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells. MMC induced cell death and the decrease in the GSH contents in SCLC cells, which were inhibited by z-LEHD.fmk (a cell permeable inhibitor of caspase-9), z-DQMD.fmk (a cell permeable inhibitor of caspase-3) and thiol compound, N-acetylcysteine. MMC caused nuclear damage, release of cytochrome c and activation of caspase-3, which were reduced by N-acetylcysteine. The depletion of GSH due to L-butionine-sulfoximine enhanced the MMC-induced cell death and formation of reactive oxygen species in SCLC cells, whereas the oxidation of GSH due to diamide or $NH_2Cl$ did not affect cytotoxicity of MMC. The results show that MMC may cause cell death in SCLC cells by inducing mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to activation of caspase-9 and -3. The MMC-induced change in the mitochondrial membrane permeability, followed by cell death, in SCLC cells may be significantly enhanced by the depletion of GSH. In contrast, the oxidation of GSH may not affect cytotoxicity of MMC.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제27권11호
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• pp.1147-1153
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• 2004

Bladder cancer is a common cancer with high risk of recurrence and mortality. Intravesicle chemotherapy after trans-urethral resection is required to prevent tumor recurrence and progression. It has been known that antioxidants enhance the antitumor effect of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), the most effective intravesical bladder cancer treatment. Capsaicin, the major pungent ingredient in genus Capsicum, has recently been tried as an intravesical drug for overactive bladder and it has also been shown to induce apoptotic cell death in many cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the apoptosis-inducing effect and alterations in the cellular redox state of capsaicin in MBT-2 murine bladder tumor cells. Capsaicin induced apoptotic MBT-2 cell death in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The capsaicin-induced apoptosis was blocked by the pretreatment with Z-VAD-fmk, a broad-range caspase inhibitor, or Ac-DEVD-CHO, a caspase-3 inhibitor. In addition to the caspase-3 activation, capsaicin also induced cytochrome c release and decrease in Bcl-2 protein expression with no changes in the level of Bax. Furthermore, capsaicin at the concentration of inducing apoptosis also markedly reduced the level of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, implying that capsaicin may enhance the antitumor effect of BCG in bladder cancer treatment. These results further suggest that capsaicin may be a valuable intravesical chemotherapeutic agent for bladder cancers.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.66-74
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• 2023

Triglyceride (TG) accumulation can cause monocytic death and suppress innate immunity. However, the signaling pathways involved in this phenomenon are not fully understood. This study aimed to examine whether inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is involved in the TG-induced death of THP-1 monocytes. Results showed that iNOS was upregulated in TG-treated THP-1 monocytes, and iNOS inhibition blocked TG-induced monocytic death. In addition, TG-induced poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage and caspase-3 and -7 activation were suppressed by iNOS inhibition. Furthermore, the expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) and survivin, which inhibit caspase-3 and -7, was reduced in TG-treated THP-1 monocytes, but iNOS inhibition recovered the TG-induced downregulation of XIAP and survivin expression. Considering that TG-induced monocytic death is triggered by caspase2 and -8, we investigated whether caspase-2 and -8 are linked to the TG-induced expression of iNOS in THP-1 monocytes. When the activities of caspase-2 and -8 were inhibited by specific inhibitors, the TG-induced upregulation of iNOS and downregulation of XIAP and survivin were restored in THP-1 monocytes. These results suggest that TG-induced monocytic death is mediated by the caspase-2/caspase-8/iNOS/XIAP and survivin/executioner caspase/PARP pathways.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.355-362
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• 2009

I evaluated the protective effect of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)/glycine receptor antagonist, 7-chlorokinurenic acid (CKA) on cultured mouse astrocytes damaged by ischemia-like condition (ILC). The protective effect of CKA was assessed by cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity and lipid peroxidation. To examine the effect of CKA on the cell apoptosis, the expression and the activity of caspase 3 were assessed by Western blotting. CKA increased the cell viability decreased by ILC. CKA also decreased the LDH activity and antioxidative effects such as SOD-like activity and inhibitory activity of lipid peroxidation. In addition, CKA suppressed the expression of caspase 3 associated with apoptosis, and increased the cell viability by the decrease of caspase 3 activity as like the caspase 3 inhibitor, Av-DVED-MED. From these results, these results suggest that ILS induces cell cytotoxicity in cultured astrocytes and CKA, NMDA/glycine receptor antagonist, is effective on the prevention of the cytotoxicity due to ILS by the antioxidative effect and the inhibition of apoptosis.

• 약학회지
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• 제43권3호
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• pp.385-390
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• 1999

Camptothecin (CPT) has been known to induce apoptosis in various cancer cell lines. To examine the intracellular apoptotic death signal initiated by CPT, we investigated the possible connection between caspase-3 activation and GSH depletion during CPT-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells. Treatment of cells with $1{\;}{\mu}M$ CPT induced PARP cleavage accompanied by DNA fragmentation. z-VAD-fmk, a caspase-3 inhibitor, blocked the CPT-induced DNA fragmentation. Pretreatment of cells with N-acetylcysteine, a precursor of GSH biosynthesis, failed to inhibit CPT-induced PARP celavage and DNA gragmenatation. No significant changes in GSH depletion is not essential for caspase activation during CPT-induced apoptosis. We also investigated whether CPT-induced apoptosis is associated with changes of the levels of Bax and Bcl-2, two proteins involved in the control of apoptosis. Bcl-2 levels exhibited a late decrease compared with the kinetics of DNA fragmentation, whereas Bax levels increased more rapidly after CPT treatment. These results suggest that Bax plays more important role than Bcl-2 in inducing DNA fragmentation and may function upsteam of proteolytic activation of caspase-3 pathway in CPT-induced apoptosis.